hbski
Huntington Beach
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Joined: 07/18/2006
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ok, looking at quads. May get a TH or just trailer behind the TC
Have to accomodate myself 220# 6ft, 13yo son 110# 5ft 6in and
GF 160# 5ft 10in
I'm thinking I need at least a 400 for me and 250s for the son and GF.
We'll mostly be trail riding with some more sporting stuff mixed in. I've ridden before, but it's been many many years. son and GF have not ridden before.
Any advice would be appreciated. Specifically though is 4x4 useful? Are any of the automatics desirable? And are there any quads or features to stay away from?
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Cheers,
DJ
'06 Dodge 3500 4x4 QC LB DRW
Ride-Rites, Hellwig, Torklift Tiedowns, Fast Guns, Superhitch
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ZXF150R
Calgary
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I just bought (today) a 2008 polaris sportsman 500 HO (full size), I was also looking at the sportsman 400 HO (mid size) which would be great for your GF and son. Great deals on the 08's right now, but if you wait until the 09 comes out the new EFI will have power steering, some other manufacturers already have power steering on the models for 08.
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Y-Guy
Tri-Cities, WA
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DJ, we ride mostly trails around here. A couple times a year we take our quads down to the beach and have a blast. I'm not jumping like the Sport guys, but then again when the mud is on the trails I don't get covered either. I've been happy with our Sportsman 500 ATVs. For long trail rides its hard to beat the comfort that Polaris offers. I personally wouldn't want anything smaller then a 500 for myself, I wouldn't mind a larger one but when it comes down to money the 500 has been right by me. You can get an EFI Sportsman 500 now, the new ones will look different and of course cost more.
My two boys 10 & 13 both ride Honda Recon's, and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another. For my wife though, she rides a 500 as I do. Laws vary by State so you need to do your homework and understand the dealers hands maybe tied. We do 99% of our riding in Oregon which is becoming a Fit Rider State.
Shop around and check out all the various brands, compare features and cost and if you can take them on a test spin.
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The Texan
Summer: A Cool Climate Winter: A Warm Climate
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It all depends on how and where you ride. We do 99% trail riding in the desert and the mountains, up to 9000', and believe me, a 400 will not cut the mustard for you, the GF maybe. We ride Arctic Cat 500A and have been pleased with the ride and performance, but if I was doing it again, I would go for a 650 for my 240#s. there are many left over 07 & 08 models out there right now. Our dealer has new 07 Can Am 500 for $5999, 07 Sportsman 700 for $6199 and 07 Sportsman 800 LE for $6999. Of course these are all asking prices and I know he will deal to get them out of the show room before the snow flies.
Bob & Betsy - USN Ret'd '78 & FL LEO Ret'd '03 
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copter
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And nobody has metioned the bulletproof Honda 400EX?
Good info: http://www.exriders.com/vbb/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=64
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stillwater
MT
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Joined: 02/26/2006
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"Any advice would be appreciated. Specifically though is 4x4 useful? Are any of the automatics desirable? And are there any quads or features to stay away from?"..
We have a 500 and 700 sportsman and find the 4x4 quite useful how we ride..I suggest you check out a couple of atv fourms just to read up on the different brands and any problems people are having..But the big thing is to go actually test ride some different atv's..See what fits everyone..All the brands are good so it will be just finding the one that works for you..Try these 2 atv sites..
atvfrontier.com and atvquadsquad.com
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SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
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Joined: 12/14/2003
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Since you live in Huntington Beach (I assume it's the HB in southern California), I also assume you will be mostly riding in the deserts around the LA area and out in Imperial county, etc. 4x4 isn't needed for desert riding.
My opinion is you'll be happier with a 400 or 450 4-stroke sport/racing quad, like a Honda TRX450R or equivalent Yamaha or Kawasaki/Suzuki. You'll want something fast that handles well in the washes and has enough power to push paddle tires on sand dunes and race up sand hill climbs. Older bikes like Banshees or TRX250R 2-strokes are great desert bikes too and can be had for great prices compared to a brand new 4-stroker.
My 'toy hauler' was a truck camper on my F350 with a flatbed trailer towed behind for the toys. Worked for me.  Lots of great deals on used toy hauler trailers right now though!
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bcoakley
Bishop, CA.
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Joined: 10/28/2006
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2 strokes are out, will be banned someday. Racing quad, as mentioned above, is for the guys that want to just go fast as possible. I personally like the automatics and believe 4x4 is nice to have for some river crossings and/or steep hillclimbs. I bought my wife the Yamaha Grizzly 700 with electric power assist steering. Rides like a cadillac. Auto,4x4,fuel injected, has it all. Got the kids (12 & 14) a Yamaha Wolverine 450. This is a unique quad in that it looks and drives like a sport quad, yet has 4x4 on the fly, automatic trans and shaft drive. My step Dad got stuck in the river last year with his Polaris 800 and I had to pull him out with the 450 Wolverine. Yamaha has also just come out with the Grizzly 550, same as the 700 (fuel inj, electric steer etc) just smaller engine. I thinkj it's the same engine with smaller bore and/or stroke.
2005 Ford F250 6.0 Super Duty
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2006 Yamaha Wolverine 450
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TPLynch
Arizona
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Joined: 12/04/2006
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I have an '08 Yamaha Grizzly 450 4X4 (for my 18 year old son and GF), and an '08 Honda Rincon 700 for me. They both run great, even at altitudes up to 9,000' here in Northern AZ. The poster who siad the 400 wouldn't be enough for you is wrong, it'll be OK
2007 Chevy 2500HD 6.0L 4.10
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albizia
Orange County California
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Joined: 08/01/2002
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OK Here it is. I live in Cypress, CA 15 miles from you and we ride everything from Pismo/Glamis to OW to Jawbone. We ride 2 strokes yes two strokes. I ride a 06 Yamaha Banshee and a YZ250, My wife and daughter have 06 Yam Blasters, My son on a KX 65, and my little boy on a KTM 50. If I where to get 4 strokes and somday I may I would get the Yamaha, KTM or Susuki 450 for sure. Leave the 4X4 to rhinos and jeeps. The 250 is air cooled and will get board quick. The 450 seem to be the most popular where I go as far as quads and bikes. My freinds kid has a Yam 700 quad and a YZ 250 He is 15. Just my two cents on quads.
I always recomend bikes for kids. Much safer. I have my 5 yr old and 9 yr old on two wheels. My 9 yr old races MX now and loves it on his KX65. This is all two stoke for the most part. I have a 13 yr old daughter and she has riden on two wheels and loves it as much as her quad. A 13 yr old usually goes on a 85cc two stoke or a 150 4 storke. Two strokes are WAY easyier to work on and much more reliable in my opinion.
PS: Teach them new skills like cluch and gears. They will have those skills for there entire life. Plus it teaches them to be more safe.
Good Luck.
Jason 'Class A M1 CDL'
2006 F350 CC 6.0 PSD SRW FX4 4.10s Banks Procomp Susp. 4 KCs, ARPs
07 Gearbox 375WFSG 5ER
Banshee T5s ported, YZ250 (Mine)
Blaster (Hers)
KX65, Raptor 80, KTM 50, PW50 (KIDS)
MANX "Bandit Buggy" (OURS)
08 246 SSI Chapperal
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